Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax liabilities:
Insurance intangible	$ 542,284	$ 559,288
Variable interest entities	107,537	131,137
Investments	243,489	168,653
Unearned premiums and credit fees	41,149	38,826
Other	2,336	2,221
Total deferred tax liabilities	936,795	900,125
Deferred tax assets:
Unrealized losses & impairments on investments	0	0
Net operating loss and capital carryforward	2,167,967	2,177,029
Loss reserves	570,006	634,692
Compensation	9,187	8,724
AMT Credits	4,269	4,269
Other	57,749	58,581
Sub-total deferred tax assets	2,809,178	2,883,295
Valuation allowance	1,874,697	1,985,369
Total deferred tax assets	934,481	897,926
Net deferred tax liability	$ (2,314)	$ (2,199)